Pro golfer Ryan McCormick tried something pretty unusual to control his anger during Friday’s round at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Club Car Championship – he played with tape over his mouth.
Yes, you read that right. Actual tape over his mouth.
“I’ve been having a not-so-fun time this year on the golf course, pretty angry and mad,” McCormick explained after shooting an even-par 72. “I’ve tried a lot of things, and I just figured I’d just shut myself up.”
The frustrated pro has been struggling to keep his emotions in check throughout 2025. After trying everything from reading self-help books to talking with mental coaches, he decided to take the extreme step of literally muzzling himself.
“I felt like Bane from Batman,” he joked, referring to the famous movie villain who wears a mask.
But there’s a serious side to this unusual approach. McCormick lost his PGA Tour card in 2024 and has been having a rough time on the Korn Ferry Tour, golf’s developmental circuit. He’s only made the cut in three out of six tournaments this year.
His best finish? A modest tie for 45th at the Bahamas Golf Classic.
The tape strategy didn’t quite work out as hoped. After shooting 73 on Thursday and 72 on Friday, he missed the cut at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Savannah, Georgia.
“I’m not proud of it,” McCormick admitted. “I don’t want to create an experience that’s not fair to my playing partners. And you know, it’s not fair to me either.”
He’s not the only pro trying creative solutions for on-course anger. Solheim Cup star Nanna Koerstz Madsen has her own unusual method – she bites into lemon wedges, using the sour shock to distract herself from frustration.
Currently sitting at 126th in the Korn Ferry Tour standings, McCormick will likely drop even lower after this missed cut. But you’ve got to give him credit for trying something different – even if it meant looking a bit silly in the process.
